SHELBY COUNTY DEPARTMENT
Transcript of SHELBY COUNTY DEPARTMENT
TO:
LEE HARRIS MAYOR
SHELBY COUNTY
HEALTH DEPARTMENT ALISA R. HAUSHALTER, DNP, RN, PHNA-BC BRUCE RANDOLPH, MD, MPH
DIRECTOR HEALTH OFFICER
May 4, 2020
FORMAL ISSUANCE OF HEALTH DIRECTIVE NO. 3
Pursuant to the Declarations of a State of Emergency by Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris
Public Health -t.Promou.--.
and the Necessity of a Communicable Disease Control Threat Procedure by the Shelby County Health Department
Residents and Visitors of Shelby County, Tennessee
FROM: Lee Harris, Shelby County Mayor Bruce Randolph, M.D., M.P.H, Shelby County Health Officer Alisa Haushalter, DNP, RN, PHNA-BC, Shelby County Health Director
RE: Public Health Announcement on COVID-19 Response
Pursuant to the emergency management authority vested in Shelby County, Tennessee, for coordination of relief efforts in the event of a countywide emergency that may result in substantial injury or harm to the population, and the necessity to respond to public health emergencies vested in the Shelby County Health Department, this Health Directive No. 3 is being issued to protect the public health for all citizens and businesses in Shelby County, Tennessee. Those citizens and owners of businesses described herein and currently within Shelby County, Tennessee serve as the class of people subject to this Directive. This Directive No. 3 supersedes all prior written or oral Health Directives and shall remain in effect for fourteen (14) days, expiring May 18, 2020, unless superseded before then.
This Directive removes certain restrictions on the ability to return to work and engage in essential activities. It is intended to be a guide toward developing long term safety measures, as detailed below, to slow and end the transmission of COVID-19, which continues to be a direct and deadly threat to the population of Shelby County, Te�0020 AMlO:!t
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In order to facilitate evolving efforts to expand the opening of services and businesses
in Shelby County, this Directive provides the following guidance on:
1) Safety Measures for Individuals;
2) Safety Measures for all Services and Businesses; and
3) Specific Parameters for Services and Businesses.
Those services or businesses that are not listed are not permitted to operate and
should remain fully closed at this time.
1) Safety Measures for Individuals:
• Individuals should cooperate with health authorities' efforts to prevent and
control the spread of COVID-19. Adopting safe habits benefits you and those
around you.
•· Individuals are encouraged and permitted to return to work while adopting the
safety precautions expressed in this Directive.
• Individuals should stay at home when possible and limit unnecessary activity.
Although this Directive allows some individuals to return to work (as provided for
below), the threat of COVID-19 remains very serious. Because avoiding
unnecessary public interactions is critical to protecting the health and safety of
everyone in Shelby County, all persons are still strongly encouraged to continue
to stay at home and to minimize in-person contact with people not in the same
household, except when engaging in essential activities such as employment or
exercise or other activates as outlined in this Directive.
• Individuals should wear cloth face coverings that cover the nose and mouth in
public settings where being in close proximity to others is anticipated and
particularly where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain at
all times. Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age
Mission
To promote, protect and improve the health and environment of all Shelby County residents.
814 Jefferson Avenue♦ Memphis, TN 38105 ♦ 901 222-9000♦ www.shelbytnhealth.com
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two, anyone who has trouble breathing, or anyone who is incapacitated or
otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance. Surgical masks and N-
95 respirators should be reserved for health care workers and first responders.
• Individuals should not participate in "social/recreational gatherings" of more than
ten (10) people. Social and recreational gatherings include, but are not limited to:
house parties, festivals, fairs, parades, youth and adult sporting/arena events,
theaters, overnight camps, other types of social or recreational assemblies, or
patronizing businesses that should not be open at this time.
• Religious services, rites, weddings, or funerals are not "social/recreational
gatherings" as described above, and nothing in this Directive mandates closure of
a place of worship or prohibits weddings or funerals as a matter of law. However,
places of worship are strongly encouraged to continue to utilize virtual or online
services and gatherings and strongly encouraged to follow guidelines as issued by
the State of Tennessee's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
regarding any in-person services that can be conducted safely. Further, it is
strongly encouraged that the public celebration component of weddings and
funerals be postponed or attended only by close family members. Any modification
by the State of Tennessee to this provision must also be followed.
• Individuals may engage in activities essential to:
a) the individual's health or safety;
b) the safety of the individual's family, household members, or pets; or
c) the health or safety of individuals who are unable or should not leave their
home.
Such activities include, but are not limited to, seeking emergency services,
obtaining medical supplies or assistance, obtaining and delivering groceries, and
obtaining supplies required to work from home.
• Individuals may engage in outdoor activities, provided that persons adhere to the
CDC, Tennessee Department of Health, and Shelby County Health Department
Mission
To promote, protect and improve the health and environment of all Shelby County residents.
814 Jefferson Avenue♦ Memphis, TN 38105 ♦ 901 222-9000♦ www.shelbytnhealth.com
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health guidelines, including, but not limited to physical activities that utilize
public areas while maintaining the aforementioned safety precautions. By way of
example, activities on playgrounds and basketball courts present unique risks for
the spread of COVID-19 and therefore, these types of activities are not permitted
at this time.
• Individuals may assist all businesses that are closed under this Directive with
minimum basic operations consisting in performing activities at their own
residences (i.e., working from home) or at their workplaces in order to maintain
the value of the business's inventory, ensure security, process payroll and
employee benefits, or for other related, necessary business functions.
2) Safety Measures for all Services and Businesses
The following safety measures must be in place for services and businesses to remain
open or to reopen as further specified under "Specific Parameters for Services and
Businesses." Services and Businesses that may not reopen should consider adopting
these safety measures to prepare for reopening in the future.
• Cooperate with health authorities' efforts to prevent and control the spread of
COVID-19.
• Comply with all federal and state business COVID-19 safety requirements,
whether industry-specific or not, such as, for example, Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) requirements. Wherever ''building capacity" is
referenced, that means the capacity set by the Memphis and Shelby County Office
of Construction Code Enforcement or comparable municipal office.
• Place prominent informational signs at entrances and high-traffic areas to
educate and encourage a partnership of safety for businesses and the public. Signs
should explain that the business is compliant with the Health Department's safety
measures and that people should 1) avoid entering a public facility if they have a
cough, fever, or other symptoms of COVD-19, 2) maintain social distancing from
Mission
To promote, protect and improve the health and environment of all Shelby Count;y residents.
814 Jefferson Avenue♦ Memphis, TN 38105♦ 901 222-9000♦ www.shelbytnhealth.com
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people who are not household members, and 3) engage in respiratory etiquette,
including covering up coughs and sneezes and properly disposing of tissues.
• Require all customers and any employees who work in public areas or around
coworkers to wear a cloth face covering that covers the nose and mouth. Cloth face
coverings should not be placed on young children under age two, anyone who has
trouble breathing, or anyone who is incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove
the mask without assistance. Surgical masks and N-95 respirators should be
reserved for health care workers and first responders.
• Continue promoting frequent and thorough handwashing, providing workers,
customers, and visitors a place to wash their hands or use alcohol-based hand
sanitizer at or near entrances to a facility, high-traffic areas, and other
appropriate areas where there are frequent employee/public interactions (e.g.,
cash registers and shopping carts/baskets). Employers should have assigned
employees who are responsible for ensuring that this safety measure is met.
• Where feasible, implement con.tactless transactions.
• Close all self-service customer bulk-item food and/or supply bins.
• Require workers to stay home if they are sick and ask employees to do health
checks by taking and recording their temperature before coming to work or
entering the workplace. Engage in screening of personnel for fever or other signs
and symptoms of COVID-19 so that any employee that exhibits such symptoms
may not enter any workplace.
• Require any employee who has had contact with a person who tests or has tested
positive for COVID-19 to self-quarantine according to the Shelby County Health
Department's guidance.
• As determined by the employer and where feasible, allow employees to work from
home or permit flexible worksites and hours (including staggered shifts) to
increase physical distancing among and between employees.
Mission
To promote, protect and improve the health and environment of all Shelby County residents.
814 Jefferson Avenue♦ Memphis, TN 38105♦ 901 222-9000♦ www.shelbytnhealth.com
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• Discourage workers from using other employee's phones, desk, offices or other
work tools and equipment, when possible. When this is not possible, sanitizers
should be used both prior to use of communal items and immediately after, and
care should be taken not to touch the face.
• Increase regular housekeeping practices for all areas, including routine cleaning
and disinfecting of surfaces, equipment, high-touch surfaces, work areas, break
rooms, bathrooms, common areas, and any other areas of the work environment.
• Limit the number of people who can enter a facility at any time to ensure that
people inside can easily maintain a minimum six-foot distance from each other at
all times, except when necessary to complete a business transaction such as
payment or delivery of goods.
• Place an employee at entrances to ensure any applicable building occupancy
thresholds (as further delineated below) are not exceeded.
• Indicate where lines may form at a facility, marking six-foot increments as guides
for where individuals should stand to maintain social distancing.
• Make best efforts to establish hours when they are only available to senior citizens
age 55 and older, pregnant women, and otherwise vulnerable populations and
consider implementing other measures to help serve vulnerable populations, such
as offering delivery services.
• Practice limited re-openings as further described below.
3) Parameters for Specific Services and Businesses
The following service providers and/or businesses may remain open or reopen as
listed below, with any additional limitations as specified. If any service or business is not
listed, it should remain closed:
• Federal and state offices and services, including post offices and airports, as
prescribed by federal and state guidelines.
Mission
To promote, protect and improve the health and environment of all Shelby County residents.
814 Jefferson Avenue♦ Memphis, TN 38105 ♦ 901 222-9000♦ www.shelbytnhealth.com
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• Essential County and municipal government functions including law
enforcement, transportation, and businesses/operations that provide government
programs and services.
• Any services or businesses that the State of Tennessee has mandated statewide
uniformity in a manner that does not permit a local health department to monitor
shall operate according to State guidance (such as churches and certain dental or
medical practices and procedures).
• To the extent not mandated by the State of Tennessee, health care, mental and
behavioral health, and biomedical research, as well as businesses that directly
support the healthcare industry, including health information technology,
staffing, and supplies.
• Critical Infrastructure businesses already operating under the Cybersecurity &
Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and/or Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) guidance for employee and workplace safety.
• Businesses that provide social services and other necessities of life for seniors,
adults, children, or people with disabilities, substance use disorders, or mental
illness. This includes residential facilities and shelters.
• Veterinary and pet supply businesses and services including the caring and
feeding pets, livestock, and farm animals.
• Agricultural and horticultural operations, including those businesses that directly
support the food supply, including food processing, feed mills, nurseries,
greenhouses, farmers' markets, food banks, community gardens, garden centers,
and landscape architectural services.
• Non-contact sports facilities such as parks, golf courses, and tennis courts,
provided that shared equipment is prohibited and any dining facilities are limited
to restaurant and curb-side pickup as set forth above.
• Sanitation and waste removal services and businesses.
Mission
To promote, protect and improve the health and environment of all Shelby County residents.
814 Jefferson Avenue♦ Memphis, TN 38105♦ 901 222-9000♦ www.shelbytnhealth.com
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• Energy, water, and sewage services and businesses.
• Pharmacies and medical supply businesses, and other related-businesses that
directly support the drug and medical supply pipeline.
• Vehicle fuel, support, and service stations.
• Banks, savings and loans, insurance companies, accounting businesses, and other
businesses that directly support the insurance and financial services sector.
• Legal and judicial services as prescribed by state and federal courts.
• Laundromats, laundry, and dry-cleaning services.
• Warehousing and storage.
• Construction and facilities design businesses.
• Transportation services including buses, taxis, and other private transportation
providers.
• Home and business cleaning and maintenance services.
• Parcel/mailings transportation and delivery businesses.
• Internet and telecommunications systems (including the provision of essential
global, national, and local infrastructure for computing services, business
infrastructure, communications, and web-based services).
• Print, online, and broadcast media.
• Funeral and burial services.
• Civic facilities, such as libraries, may reopen at 25% building occupancy with all
safety measures outlined above followed.
• Legally permitted businesses that provide goods or services exclusively through
curbside pick-up or drive-thru are permitted to continue current operations, with
Mission To promote, protect and improve the health and environment of all Shelby County residents.
814 Jefferson Avenue♦ Memphis, TN 38105♦ 901 222-9000♦ www.shelbytnhealth.com
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the limitation that there are no more than ten (10) employees within the
establishment at any one time with these additional accommodations:
1. If necessary, these businesses may permit patrons to enter the premises to pick
up an order.
2. Businesses that do not offer a "drive-thru" order service are strongly
encouraged to avoid allowing lines to form by requesting that patrons place
their food or other orders in advance by telephone, online, or other remote
means, and request that they wait in their vehicle until the order is ready. If
patrons do not have a vehicle, or if they must enter the premises for order,
payment, and/or pick-up, access should be restricted to one patron at a time
whenever possible. Should patrons have a need to form a line outside of the
business, they must remain a minimum of six-feet apart.
3. This provision includes any fully automated car wash, but any ancillary self
service vacuum or equipment tools must remain closed.
• Restaurants may return to in-restaurant dining in the following manner:
1. Restaurants whose primary, legally permitted business is food service may
reopen to 50% of building occupancy. Tables should be spaced, and seating
arrangements coordinated to maintain a distance of at least six feet between
groups of customers.
2. Bar areas should remain closed at this time.
3. All communal use of items and products should be prevented, including, for
example, writing utensils, condiment containers, self-service stations, and
buffets.
4. All menus should be disposable, single-patron usage, and/or accessible by
personal electronic devices (internet website, QR Code, etc.).
5. All employees should be required to take their temperature or perform a quick
health check before entering the work area.
Mission
To promote, protect and improve the health and environment of all Shelby County residents.
814 Jefferson Avenue♦ Memphis, TN 38105♦ 901 222-9000♦ www.shelbytnhealth.com
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6. Employees involved in food preparation or service are required to wear cloth
face coverings that cover the nose and mouth.
7. Live entertainment is not permitted.
• Retail and Grocery, including legally permitted food and beverage businesses,
grocery stores, convenience stores selling food, home/business repair, and
hardware supply stores.
1. The number of customers must be limited to 50% of the building occupancy of
each location.
2. Distancing markers must be placed throughout the store, and outside where
customers may be waiting in line to remind customers to maintain a safe
distance from other patrons.
3. Consideration should be given to reopening with reduced hours to ensure
ample time for proper cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting.
4. All communal use items and products should be prevented including store bags
and writing utensils (ex: customers may package their own items in their own
bags).
5. Employees must be required to take their temperature or perform a quick
health check before reporting to work.
6. Sales by curbside pick-up, drive-thru, or delivery should be encouraged and
promoted.
• Health Clubs that do not involve contact-fitness or sports (including gyms and
dance/fitness studios) may reopen in the following manner:
1. Facilities should have restricted access to staffed hours only and must be
limited to 25% of building occupancy.
2. Adjustments should be made to equipment layout with closed or restricted
access to equipment as necessary so as to permit six-feet physical distancing.
Mission
To promote, protect and improve the health and environment of all Shelby County residents.
814 Jefferson Avenue♦ Memphis, TN 38105 ♦ 901 222-9000♦ www.shelbytnhealth.com
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3. Facilities should conduct regular and thorough cleaning of all equipment,
surfaces and areas of the facility using disinfectant cleaning supplies.
4. Facilities should require that patrons wash or sanitize their hands upon
entering the facility and maintain six-foot physical distancing between
themselves and others while at the facility.
5. Patrons or facility personnel should be required to clean equipment with
disinfecting wipes before and after each use, and facilities must provide hand
sanitizing stations for use upon patron entry and exit to/from the facility.
6. No sick patrons and employees should be allowed to enter the facility.
• Barber shops and hair salons may reopen on May 6, 2020 with additional
parameters set forth below or as otherwise dictated by the State of Tennessee. No
other close contact business is permitted to operate at this time, including nail,
tattoo, and massage services. When opened, barber shops and hair salons should
adhere to CDC general and industry-specific safety guidelines, and these
businesses must follow these additional requirements:
1. Employees must have their temperatures checked before entering the work
area and cannot be permitted to enter if they have a fever or any other
symptoms of COVID-19.
2. Salons and shop owners must sufficiently stock their place of business with
hand sanitizer, soap, and/or sanitizing wipes before reopening.
3. Owners must maintain an appointment book that includes, at a minimum,
customer name, date, and time of service.
4. Face coverings should be worn by stylists and customers whenever practical.
All employees (including stylists and barbers) should wear face coverings and
gloves while providing services.
5. Items such as capes, smocks, drapes, and neck strips should be one-time-use
between cleanings or disposable as much as possible.
Mission
To promote, protect and improve the health and environment of all Shelby County residents.
814 Jefferson Avenue♦ Memphis, TN 38105 ♦ 901 222-9000♦ www.shelbytnhealth.com
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6. Salon and shop owners must make appropriate modifications to accommodate
social distancing. For instance, active workstations should be at least six-feet
apart, with additional measures taken as necessary to ensure that all people
stay six-feet apart at all times except for a staff member providing a service
to a client. Physical barriers should be used where necessary.
7. Stylists should be encouraged to get tested before coming to work and to stay
home if they test positive or have COVID-19 related symptoms.
8. Customers must be served by appointment only, except walk-ins may be
permitted if walk-in customers wait in their vehicle for their turn.
9. There must be at least 15 minutes between client appointments for sanitizing
the client area.
10. Salon and shop owners must perform regular disinfection of high-touch
surface areas and equipment (e.g., door handles, counter space, light switches,
tools and instruments).
11. Unless the customer is a minor, barber shops and hair salons must not allow
non-customer companions to accompany customers during a service.
12. Owners are encouraged to implement other precautions provided for by the
State here: https://www.tn.gov/governor/covid-19/economic-recovery/close
contact-business-guidelines.html (current as of May 4, 2020).
• Daycare and childcare businesses, provided that they prioritize children of
parents working as emergency/first responders or in essential services, implement
screening procedures, develop safe drop-off and pickup procedures, ensure
additional steps are taken to enhance personal hygiene of employees, (including
wearing face coverings that cover the nose and mouth), and provide extraordinary
sanitization efforts within the facilities themselves.
• Hotels and commercial lodges will remain open with a ten-person limitation on
the number of people allowed in common areas. Pick-up and room-service food
Mission
To promote, protect and improve the health and environment of all Shelby County residents.
814 Jefferson Avenue♦ Memphis, TN 38105♦ 901 222-9000♦ www.shelbytnhealth.com
Page 13
services may continue. If there is a hotel restaurant, guidance in this Directive
regarding restaurants should be followed.
• Housing and rental services.
• Manufacturing, Product Logistics, Transport/Distribution Centers, Call-Centers
and other similar businesses that are not open to the public or do not rely on in
person interaction with its customers are allowed to reopen provided that they
arrange workspaces/work stations to allow physical distancing, regularly sanitize
equipment, prevent use of shared devices and implements, and observe all other
general safety measures as specified above.
• Nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and any other such facilities housing,
treating, or caring for senior citizens or other vulnerable populations shall remain
operational but closed to all visitors unless, at the discretion of the facility, visitors
are permitted to see residents receiving end-of-life care, provided that such visits
may be accomplished without unreasonable risk to other residents or staff. In all
other respects, only employees and residents of such facilities will be permitted in
the facility. Employees must not be permitted to enter if they have a fever or any
other symptoms of COVID-19, and these establishments must ensure additional
steps are taken to enhance personal hygiene of employees and to provide
extraordinary sanitization efforts within the facilities themselves. Facilities must
establish and maintain an Infection Control and Prevention Program including
testing of employees and residents in accordance to CDC, State, and Shelby
County Health Department guidance.
• Businesses related to the pursuit of essential activities may operate in furtherance
of those activities as provided for in this Directive.
• Public and private non-residential schools are to remain closed, however, further
guidance on reopening schools will be provided well in advance of when schools
are scheduled to reopen for the Fall 2020 school year.
Mission
To promote, protect and improve the health and environment of all Shelby County residents.
814 Jefferson Avenue♦ Memphis, TN 38105♦ 901 222-9000♦ www.sbelbytnhealth.com
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In conclusion, the aforementioned guidelines set forth in this Directive present, at
this time, the least restrictive means by which transmission of COVID-19 may be slowed,
while also permitting businesses to reopen.
Limiting close contact with others is the best way to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Everyone should practice social distancing. Social distancing, also called "physical
distancing," means keeping space between yourself and other people outside of your home.
To practice social/physical distancing, do this:
• Stay at least six feet (two meters) from other people; and
• Wear a cloth face covering (covering your nose and mouth) when you are outside of
your home and encountering other people.
Please keep in mind that the goal is safety while balancing the needs of citizens to
receive the necessities of life, i.e., food and shelter, allowing people to work in a safe manner,
and further ensuring the availability of resources to the community. Every effort should be
made by providers of essential and other services to take steps to stop the spread of this
deadly disease. These prophylactic actions are meant to protect everyone.
Requirement to Collect Demographic Data.
Any health care provider located in Shelby County, Tennessee that provides COVID-
19 testing or clinical care shall provide to the Shelby County Health Department (SCHD),
as requested by the SCHD, demographic data regarding individuals tested or cared for by
the provider. Such data shall be in such forms, formats and/or schedules that the SCHD will
reasonably specify to the provider by written guidelines, including by way of example and
without limitation the following data: gender, race, ethnicity, date of birth or other indicia
of age, and such other demographic-based clinical information that the SCHD deems
relevant and necessary to respond to and serve the needs of Shelby County related to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Mission
To promote, protect and improve the health and environment of all Shelby County residents.
814 Jefferson Avenue♦ Memphis, TN 3810S ♦ 901 222-9000♦ www.shelbytnhealth.com
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The Shelby County Health Department, with the assistance of the Shelby County Sheriffs Office, is authorized to take emergent and immediate action to enforce this Directive.
E HARRIS, SHELBY COUNTY MAYOR
��d.�. SH� HEALTH OFFICER
ALISA HA SHALTER, DNP, RN, NA-BC, SHELBY COUNTY HEALTH DIRECTOR
Your Right of Review
If you feel this Directive has been issued in error, you may request a review by the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Tim Jones, for the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH}, or his designee, at (615) 741-3111. Dr. Jones, or a designee, will review your request within five (5) business days of its receipt, and you will receive a decision in writing. You may alsorequest that the TDH obtain a court order containing the provisions of this Directive. If yourequest this option, the TDH will take the matter to an available and appropriate court ofrecord. Please be aware you are still required to abide by all of the provisions contained inthis Health Directive during any review process. A copy of the rules setting forth the HealthDirective procedure and related rights is available on the Shelby County HealthDepartment website.
Mission
To promote, protect and improve the health and environment of all Shelby County residents.
814 Jefferson Avenue♦ Memphis, TN 38105♦ 901 222-9000♦ www.shelbytnhealth.com